Enjoy the Sweeter Side of Life . . .

Why I write for you…

I hope you enjoy reading my articles as much as I enjoy writing them. From the number of comments that I get from folks around town, it seems like you do. Here’s a little bit about why I write for you…

First of all, I want this column to be a celebration of all foods local. I am what you might consider a locavore, someone who seeks out and enjoys eating foods that are grown and produced locally. The reasons for this are many, and include supporting small farmers, cutting down on the transportation costs and fuel consumption that goes along with moving food all over the world, keeping my money in the local economy, and the simple fact that local, seasonal food has the tendency to taste better. But I feel that eating locally really connects me to my environment and to my region. The constant changing of the seasons gives me a progressively changing menu of foods throughout the year. Dandelion greens for instance are a being eaten all over south Jersey right now, not because they are available year-round in hermetically sealed bags at the grocery store, but because they are growing right here, right now in the soil that surrounds us.

Eating locally grown foods also connects me to a past that I know little about, but strive to learn from. The immigrants that first moved to the area so long ago ate dandelion greens because they didn’t have the endless options for year round foods that we have now, and eating the foods that our recent ancestors ate, when they ate them, allows me to understand and respect them a little bit more.

I also want to use this column to highlight restaurants and eateries in Vineland, and in our region that are doing something truly special. Too often, our culture gives in to the idea that homogenized, consistent foods are the best option. With that idea, though, come bland foods, uninspired foods, foods that lack soul. With the constant barrage of marketing that comes from corporate advertising, it’s easy to forget about the local food artisans that give our fair city something special. The Greek salads at Olympia, the Chambourcin at Bellview Winery, the ravioli at Conte, the subs at Giovanni’s, the strawberries from Pantano Produce… these are the foodie spots that give Vineland something to be proud about (and there are many more that I don’t have space to write about!).

Another reason for my article is to inspire pride in Vineland. Not being from the area and having lived in quite a few different places in this great country of ours, I have a different perspective of Vineland than many of our residents. I was surprised, when I first moved here, about how many people were down on their town when there is so much great stuff around! Mike Epifanio, the publisher of The Grapevine, and I share this passion for reigniting pride in our home city, so I’m happy to share my angle, which of course, is food. In the past year, I’ve done stories from traditional Ukrainian Easter dinner, to the local soup kitchen, to a good ol’ fashioned family-style crab and spaghetti feast. There is wonderful food stuff going on in Vineland, and I want to share with you as much as I can.

I also like to use this column to write about special events that happen in Vineland and our surrounding region. The Rock n’ Roll n’ Ribs n’ Chili cook-off in downtown Vineland comes to mind as an awesome event that took place and is a source of pride. The Dandelion Festival, which took place last weekend, is another really cool event that is very Vineland. The chamber does a wonderful job of putting on this event every year, and the Savoy makes it happen without a flaw. I know not everyone can attend these events, so if I’m fortunate enough to go, I enjoy sharing my experience with my readers so that they can attend vicariously.

Now that spring is here, and I’m feeling revitalized from the winter blues, I can’t wait for another year of food and drink. Downtown Vineland has several food-oriented events… of course, the rib and chili cook-off, as well as the enormously successful seafood festival and the fresh and specialty foods market. There will be new restaurants opening, and new possibilities for food and fun all over Vineland. So make sure you go out this year and eat!